Lakai Sandpine Resort — Hotel in Gangneung-si

Visited here in June with my family. This place is Korean style resort, which means that it is for members only, except when there is free rooms. Based on my experience in practice it means that Saturday nights are fully booked by the members and on other nights you can always find empty room. ||||I made my reservation so that my Korean friend called there and asked somebody who can speak English to call back. After some time somebody called and I made the reservation. Afterwards I exchanged few emails with the staff and they came from address bychoi@sig.co.kr so it might be possible to book directly by sending email into that address.||||We stayed in Duo room (3 adults and 2 children) and the price was 160 000 won/Thursday night and 210 000 won/Friday nigh. Room itself was very nice as the resort is brand new. Cooking stuff were adequate and towels etc were plentiful. Full 10 points from the room.||||Resort has very nice outdoor swimming pools which were open at least at the end of June with heated water :) But then starts the strange things which we felt very annoying but can be no problem for other visitors:||||First of all the pool is open from 10am to 6pm and you have to pay extra to enter the pool. In this kind of resort where the pool is open for guests only it must be so that the pool and sun beds are free to use and are available for much longer hours. My children were jumping around at 9am on the side of the pool that why can't we go to pool, why can't we go to pool. Same thing in the evening, pools are nicely lid and outside is warm eventough it's dark so would be perfect to slip in the pool to look stars but no. ||||Second thing is that everybody must have a hat in the pool. Okay I could understand if hat means swimming cap but in this case hat means any kind of baseball cap, scarf, swimming cap etc. mostly the Koreans had baseball caps in the swimming pool, because they had to! I have no idea why hat was mandatory but I can guarantee to the Lakai Sandpine people that it is much cleaner to have people swim without their hats then ask them to wear baseball caps.||||Naturally we did not have hats and we had to buy swimming caps because we thought that it is compulsory, could not even think that any hat would have done the thing. Also it is compulsory for babies too to have a hat, so my one year old got almost kicked out from the pool because he always took his hat away while on the pool. Lifeguard guestured me to leave with him many times before I showed him that try and drag me away if you like but we are not going anywhere and he will not were his hat. After that the guy let us be.||||While in Rome do like the Romans do, but sometimes I have really hard time to understand the Koreans. I give three stars because of the pool policy, otherwise could have gone for 4 or 5 even.||||One more thing, the breakfast was not included in the price. We bought stuff from downstairs shop and had our own food as well so no experience of their breakfast. There is one restaurant in the complex serving really good food with quite high price tag but not too bad. Less than 15 000 - 20 000 won...

Lakai Sandpine Resort was exactly what I needed—peace, comfort, and a beautiful stretch of coastline just steps away from my room. Located in Gangwon-do, near the East Sea, this resort offers a rare combination of natural beauty, modern comfort, and warm hospitality.

From the moment I arrived, I felt a deep sense of calm. The property is spacious, clean, and surrounded by lush pine trees, which makes the name “Sandpine” feel incredibly appropriate. The sound of waves crashing on the shore in the distance, the fresh ocean breeze, and the scent of the pine forest create a perfect backdrop for a relaxing getaway.

My room was large, well-equipped, and had a partial sea view that made mornings especially refreshing. The bed was cozy, and I appreciated the small thoughtful details—like slippers, a welcome drink, and easy access to the beach. It’s not a flashy luxury resort, but it has everything you need for a comfortable and peaceful stay.

The resort’s beachside walkway is perfect for early morning strolls or late afternoon reflections. And it’s only a short drive to nearby attractions like Naksansa Temple and Sokcho city, making it a great base for both relaxation and exploration.

What really stood out to me was the serenity. Unlike crowded tourist hotels, Lakai Sandpine has a quiet, almost retreat-like atmosphere. I found myself disconnecting from the noise of daily life and reconnecting with nature and myself.

If you're looking for a beachfront retreat that offers both simplicity and soul, Lakai Sandpine Resort is a place I’d recommend...

We visited this resort for the business offsite meeting and spent about a day and half staying at this facility.||||The Business conference rooms are OK. We faced some issues with the projectors and the acoustics and they were later fixed by the staff.||||I missed my luggage from my room but came to know that it was taken and kept at Lost and found area by the house keeping staff. The staff at reception knew little English, so it was tough to explain my situation but with some Korean help from my colleague, they were able to find my luggage.||Rooms were just fine. The controls (AC, Light) were automated and written in Korean so it took some time to figure out the operations.||The View of the Beach was marvelous and after dinner, we took a long stroll on the beach which was next to our apartment rooms.||Food was good but I think they can have some options to serve this dinner beside...